Pontoon trailer travel kit

ABSTRACT

A pontoon trailer travel kit minimizes transverse spaces between a pontoon boat trailer and the pontoons of a pontoon boat. The kit comprises a bunk bracket that is mountable to and adjustable along a lift arm of the trailer. A bunk assembly is fastened to and is adjustable on the bunk bracket in directions perpendicular to the directions of adjustment of the bunk bracket. A kit is installed on a lift arm on each side of the trailer. The kits are pre-set such that the bunk of each bunk assembly is in close proximity to a pontoon. The boat is substantially prevented from sliding laterally on the trailer. In a modified embodiment, only the bunk assembly is used, and it is clamped directly to the trailer lift arm. That embodiment is used with boats in which the pontoons are exceptionally closely spaced to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention pertains to trailers, and more particularly toapparatus that enables a trailer to accommodate different size boats.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Various types of trailers have been developed to haul differentkinds of cargo. For example, trailers for hauling boats, snowmobiles,personal watercrafts, and all-terrain vehicles are well known and inwidespread use.

[0005] A rather specialized trailer is required to haul a pontoon boat.Pontoon boats are commercially available in a variety of deck widths andpontoon diameters. A pontoon boat trailer typically has a narrow widthso as to fit between the boat pontoons. The pontoon boat trailernormally has a carriage that is raiseable and lowerable relative to thetrailer frame. The trailer is used by lowering the carriage and rollingthe trailer under the pontoon boat deck. The carriage is then raised tocontact the deck and lift the boat off the ground or out of the water.Normally, the boat is tied to the carriage at the trailer front end.

[0006] Although pontoon boat trailers have been used successfully formany years, they nevertheless possess an undesirable characteristic. Forpractical considerations, pontoon boat trailers are usually made with awidth that is slightly less than the expected narrowest distance betweenthe pontoons of the boats to be hauled. When hauling such boats, anytransverse spaces between the trailer and the pontoons are small, whichmakes the trailer satisfactory for holding the boats laterally on thetrailer during hauling.

[0007] However, when the pontoon boat trailer is used with a pontoonboat that has a wider deck or smaller pontoons, there can beconsiderable transverse spaces between the trailer and the pontoons. InFIG. 1, for example, a pontoon boat trailer 1 is shown supporting atypical pontoon boat 3. There is a transverse distance D between thetrailer carriage lift arms 21 and the boat pontoons 7. It is conceivablethat the boat 3 could slide laterally on the carriage 19 through thedistances D while the boat is being hauled. Such sliding would affectthe location of the boat center of gravity relative to the trailer 1 andcould tend to make the boat and trailer combination unstable.

[0008] Thus, a need exists for improvements in pontoon boat trailers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In accordance with the present invention, an economical andversatile pontoon trailer travel kit is provided that substantiallyprevents a pontoon boat from sliding laterally on a pontoon boattrailer. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes a bunkadjustably mounted to a pontoon boat trailer lift arm.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the pontoon trailertravel kit is comprised of a bunk bracket that is mounted to the trailerlift arm. The bunk bracket mounting is achieved in a way that enablesthe bunk bracket to be adjustable along the lift arm. In a preferredembodiment, the bunk bracket has a base plate that contacts the trailerlift arm and is held in place by fasteners. A pair of side plates extendperpendicularly from the base plate opposite the trailer lift arm.

[0011] The pontoon trailer travel kit further includes a bunk assemblythat is fastened to the bunk bracket. The bunk assembly is composed ofthe bunk and two side walls that are slidable on the bunk bracket sideplates in directions perpendicular to the directions of the adjustmentof the bunk bracket on the trailer lift arm. The bunk assembly sidewalls are fastened to the bunk bracket side plates.

[0012] In use, a pontoon trailer travel kit is pre-set on each of twolift arms on opposite sides of the pontoon boat trailer. To do so, thedistance between the pontoons of the boat to be hauled is measured. Thebunk bracket fasteners are tightened to the lift arm so as to beapproximately horizontal aligned with the boat pontoons. The bunkassemblies are slid relative to the bunk brackets until the bunks arespaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between theboat pontoons. The bunk assembly side walls are then tightly fastened tothe bunk bracket side plates. After the pontoon trailer travel kits havebeen pre-set, the boat can be lifted and hauled in the usual manner. Thekits assure that there is only minimal transverse spaces between thetrailer and the pontoons through which the boat could slide while beinghauled. The kits can be easily removed, if desired, when the boat islowered again onto the ground or water.

[0013] Further in accordance with the present invention, the pontoontrailer travel kit can accommodate distances between boat pontoons thatare too small for the kit described above. With closely spaced pontoons,the bunk bracket can be left unused. Instead, the bunk assembly isclamped directly to the lift arm. To do so, the bunk assembly side wallsstraddle the lift arm. The bunk assembly is positioned on the lift armsuch that it is approximately aligned with the pontoon. Then the sidewalls are clamped by fasteners to the lift arm.

[0014] The method and apparatus of the invention, using mutuallyperpendicularly adjustable bunk brackets and bunk assemblies, thusremoves substantially all transverse spaces between a pontoon boattrailer and the pontoons of a pontoon boat. The probability that theboat might slide laterally on the trailer is minimal, even thoughdifferent size boats are haulable by a single trailer.

[0015] Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading thedetailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an end view of a typical pontoon boat supported by atypical pontoon boat trailer.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical pontoon boat trailerthat advantageously uses the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of thepontoon trailer travel kit of the invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a pontoon trailertravel kit installed on the pontoon boat trailer.

[0020]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of amodified embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enablethose skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physicalembodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which maybe embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention isdefined in the claims appended hereto.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, a typical pontoon boat trailer, which may bethe same as the pontoon boat trailer 1 of FIG. 1, is illustrated. Thepontoon boat trailer has a longitudinally extending frame 9 having afront end 11 and a back end 13. A tongue 15 is at the frame front end11. Wheels 17 support the trailer near its back end 13.

[0023] The pontoon boat trailer 1 further comprises the carriage 19,which is connected to the frame 9 by several lift arms 21. Each lift arm21 is pivotable relative to both the carriage 19 and the frame. In FIG.2, the carriage is shown in a raised configuration whereat the carriageis spaced above the frame by the height of the lift arms. From theraised configuration, the carriage is lowerable to a loweredconfiguration whereat the carriage rests on the frame. Raising andlowering the carriage is achieved by pivoting the lift arms in thedirections of arrows 23 and 25, respectively. To provide adequate forceto raise and lower the carriage, the pontoon boat trailer furthercomprises a winch mechanism 27, which includes a manually operatedhandle 29.

[0024] As mentioned previously in connection with FIG. 1, the pontoonboat trailer 1 is used by first lowering the carriage 19 to the loweredconfiguration. The trailer is rolled under the deck 31 and between thepontoons 7 of the pontoon boat 3. Then the winch 27 is operated by thehandle 29 to raise the carriage to the raised configuration. Doing tocauses the carriage to contact the boat deck 31 and lift the boat offthe ground 33.

[0025] In accordance with the present invention, and also looking atFIGS. 3 and 4, a pontoon trailer travel kit 35 is incorporated into thepontoon boat trailer 1. The pontoon trailer travel kit 35 is designedand functions to take up the distance D between the pontoons 7 and thelift arms 21 of the trailer such that the boat 3 does not slidelaterally in the directions of arrows 37 when the trailer hauls thepontoon boat over the ground 33.

[0026] The pontoon trailer travel kit 35 is comprised of a generallyU-shaped bunk bracket 39 having a base plate 41 and a pair of sideplates 43. The base plate 41 is generally H-shaped, having a middlesection 44 and a tab 46 at each corner of the middle section. The sideplates 43 upstand from the middle section 44. The distance between theoutside surfaces 48 of the side plates is approximately equal to thewidth of the pontoon boat trailer lift arm 21. The tabs 46 projectoutwardly beyond the planes of the outside surfaces 48 of the sideplates. The base plate tabs have respective holes 45 through them. Eachside plate 43 has a pair of holes 47 through it.

[0027] The bunk bracket 39 is mounted by placing the base plate 41against a lift arm 21 of the pontoon boat trailer 1. A pair of U-bolts49 straddle the lift arm and pass through the tab holes 45. Nuts 51threaded onto the U-bolts 49 complete the mounting.

[0028] The pontoon trailer travel kit 35 further comprises a bunkassembly 53. In the preferred embodiment, the bunk assembly 53 iscomprised of a bunk 55 and a channel 57. The bunk 55 may be arectangular wood block that is covered with a fabric. The channel 57 hasan end wall 59 and side walls 61. The channel end wall 59 is joined tothe block 55, as by a conventional screw 63. The distance between theinside surfaces 64 of the channel side walls 61 is slightly greater thanthe distance between the outside surfaces 48 of the bunk bracket sideplates 43. The channel side walls 61 have a pair of slots 65perpendicular to the end wall. The slots 65 are spaced apart to receivea U-bolt 67.

[0029] The channel side walls 61 are placed over the bunk bracket sideplates 43. A U-bolt 67 passes through the channel slots 65 and the holes47 in the bunk bracket side plates and is held there by nuts 69.

[0030] The pontoon trailer travel kit 35 is normally preset on thetrailer lift arm 21. The kit is positioned such that the center of thebunk 55 is approximately horizontally aligned with a boat pontoon 7, andthe nuts 51 are tightened. A second kit 35A is installed in the same wayon the lift arm 21A on the opposite side of the trailer 1.

[0031] The distance between the pontoons 7 of the boat 3 to be hauled ismeasured. The nuts 69 are loosened to enable the bunk assemblies 53 toslide horizontally on the bunk brackets 39 until the bunks 55 are at adistance from each other of approximately one inch to two inches greaterthan the distance between the boat pontoons. At that point, the nuts 69are retightened.

[0032] The pontoon boat trailer 1 is used in a normal fashion to supporta pontoon boat 3 off the ground 33. When the two kits 35 and 35A areproperly installed, the minimal spacing between the pontoons and thebunks substantially prevent the pontoon boat from sliding in the lateraldirections 37 on the trailer carriage 19. The vertical adjustmentprovided by the U-bolts 49 and the horizontal adjustments provided bythe U-bolts 67 enable the pontoon trailer travel kits to be used with awide range of widths for the pontoon boat deck 31 and diameters of thepontoons 7. The ease with which the pontoon trailer travel kit isinstalled on a boat trailer lift arm 21 makes the kit ideal forretrofitting existing trailers. Further, the kit can be readily removedfrom a trailer for storage, if desired.

[0033] Some pontoon boats have exceptionally narrow spaces between thepontoons. In those instances, a modified pontoon trailer travel kit 71as shown in FIG. 5 is used. The pontoon trailer travel kit 71 iscomprised only of a bunk assembly 53′. Specifically, a channel end wall59′ is joined to a bunk 55′. The channel side walls 61′ fit ratherloosely over a pontoon boat trailer lift arm 21′. U-bolts 67′ passthrough slots 65′ in the channel side walls 61′. Nuts 69′ tighten on theU-bolts 67′ to clamp the trailer lift arm 21′ between the channel sidewalls 61′. The U-bolts 67′ and nuts 69′ enable vertical adjustment ofthe kit 71. The slots 67′ permit adjustment of the bunk 55, indirections toward and away from the lift arm 21′.

[0034] In summary, the results and advantages of pontoon boats andpontoon boat trailers can now be more fully realized. The pontoontrailer travel kit not only substantially prevents lateral sliding of apontoon boat on a pontoon boat trailer, but also is rapidly and easilypre-set to suit different size pontoon boats on a single trailer. Thisdesirable result comes from using the combined functions of the bunkassembly and the trailer lift arm. The bunk bracket is mountable on thetrailer lift arm at the position that best matches the pontoon of theparticular boat to be hauled. The bunk assemblies are adjustedhorizontally on the bunk brackets to a pre-set distance. When the twokits are installed, the boat is substantially prevented from slidinglaterally on the trailer. For boats with exceptionally short distancesbetween the pontoons, a modified pontoon trailer travel kit eliminatesthe bunk bracket. The bunk assembly is clamped directly to the trailerlift arm, on which it is vertically and horizontally adjustable. The kitis easily installed on and removed from the trailer, so it is ideal forretrofitting many different model pontoon boat trailers.

[0035] It will also be recognized that in addition to the superiorperformance of the invention, its cost is such as to be almostnegligible in relation to the benefits it provides. Also, because it ismade of a simple design and with rugged components, it gives longservice life with minimal maintenance.

[0036] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordancewith the invention, a pontoon trailer travel kit that satisfies the aimsand advantages set forth above. While the invention has been describedin conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident thatmany alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A pontoon trailer travel kit comprising: a. a bunk brackethaving parallel side plates; b. means for mounting the bunk bracket to aselected member having a predetermined width; c. a bunk assemblycomprising: i. a bunk; and ii. a channel joined to the bunk and having apair of parallel side walls, the channel side walls sliding overrespective bunk bracket side plates; and d. means for fastening thechannel side walls to the bunk bracket side plates.
 2. The pontoontrailer travel kit of claim 1 wherein the means for mounting the bunkbracket comprises at least one first U-bolt that straddles the selectedmember and that passes through associated holes in the bunk bracket, anda pair of first nuts in operative association with said at least oneU-bolt to mount the bunk bracket to the selected member.
 3. The pontoontrailer travel kit of claim 1 wherein the means for fastening thechannel side walls to the bunk bracket side plates comprises at leastone second U-bolt that passes through openings in the bunk assembly sidewalls and in the bunk bracket side plates, and a pair of second nuts inoperative association with said at least one second U-bolt.
 4. Thepontoon trailer travel kit of claim 3 wherein the openings in thechannel side walls are slots that provide sliding adjustment of the bunkassembly on the bunk bracket.
 5. The pontoon trailer travel kit of claim3 wherein the openings in the bunk bracket side plates or the openingsin the channel side walls are slots that provide adjustment of the bunkassembly on the bunk bracket.
 6. The pontoon trailer travel kit of claim2 wherein: a. the bunk bracket comprises a base plate, the bunk bracketside plates being perpendicular to the base plate; and b. said at leastone first U-bolt passes through associated holes in the bunk bracketbase plate and cooperates with the first nuts to mount the bunk bracketto the selected member.
 7. The pontoon trailer travel kit of claim 1wherein the channel has an end wall joined to the bunk, and wherein thechannel side walls are perpendicular to the end wall.
 8. The pontoontrailer travel kit of claim 6 wherein: a. the bunk bracket base plate isgenerally H-shaped having a middle section of a width generally equal tothe predetermined width and multiple corners, and a tab at each cornerof the middle section; b. the holes in the base plate through which saidat least one first U-bolt passes are in the tabs; c. the bunk bracketside plates have respective outside surfaces that are spaced apart adistance substantially equal to the predetermined width; and d. the bunkassembly channel side walls have respective inside surfaces that arespaced apart a distance slightly greater than the predetermined width;so that the channel side walls are slidable over the selected member inaddition to sliding over the bunk bracket side plates.
 9. Incombination: a. a pontoon boat trailer having a frame, a carriage, andfirst and second lift arms for raising and lowering the carriage on theframe; b. a pontoon boat having a deck supported by the pontoon boattrailer carriage and first and second pontoons; and c. apparatus forsubstantially preventing lateral sliding of the pontoon boat on thepontoon boat trailer carriage comprising: i. first and second bunkbrackets, each comprising a base plate and a pair of parallel sideplates; ii. means for mounting each bunk bracket to a respective firstand second lift arm in alignment with respective pontoons; iii. firstand second bunk assemblies in operative association with the first andsecond bunk brackets, respectively, each bunk assembly comprising a bunkand a channel joined thereto, each channel having a pair of side wallsthat slide over the associated bunk bracket side plates; and iv. meansfor fastening the first and second bunk assemblies to the associatedbunk brackets with the respective bunks being in close proximity to thefirst and second boat pontoons, so that only minimal transverse spacesare present between the boat pontoons and the bunks.
 10. The combinationof claim 9 wherein: a. each bunk bracket base plate has a middlesection, and multiple tabs projecting outwardly from the middle section,each tab having a hole therethrough; and b. the side plates of each bunkbracket upstand from the base plate middle section and have respectiveouter surfaces that are spaced apart a distance generally equal to thewidth of the pontoon boat trailer lift arms.
 11. The combination ofclaim 10 wherein the means for mounting each bunk bracket comprises atleast one first U-bolt that straddles the associated lift arm and thatpasses through the holes of two tabs of the bunk bracket base plate. 12.The combination of claim 9 wherein the means for fastening each bunkassembly to the associated bunk bracket comprises at least one secondU-bolt that passes through openings in the side walls of the bunkassembly channel and through openings in the bunk bracket side plates.13. In combination with a pontoon boat having a deck and spaced apartfirst and second pontoons; and a pontoon boat trailer having a carriagethat supports the pontoon boat deck, first and second lift arms ofpredetermined width that raise and lower the carriage and that aretransversely spaced from the first and second pontoons, respectively,first and second pontoon trailer travel kits mounted to the first andsecond pontoon boat trailer lift arms, respectively, each pontoontrailer travel kit comprising: a. a bunk assembly comprising a bunk, anda pair of side walls; and b. means for clamping the bunk assembly to thepontoon boat trailer lift arm at a selected location therealong suchthat the bunk is in close proximity to an associated boat pontoon, sothat only minimal transverse spaces are present between the boatpontoons and the first and second pontoon trailer travel kits to therebysubstantially prevent the boat from sliding laterally on the carriage.14. The combination of claim 13 wherein: a. each bunk assembly comprisesa channel having a end wall joined to the bunk; and b. the bunk assemblyside walls are integral with and perpendicular to the channel end wall.15. The combination of claim 13 wherein the bunk assembly side walls arespaced apart a distance slightly greater than the predetermined width tothereby enable the bunk assembly side walls to slide over the associatedtrailer lift arm.
 16. The combination of claim 13 wherein the means forclamping the bunk assembly to the pontoon boat trailer lift armcomprises at least one U-bolt that passes through the bunk assembly sidewalls, and fasteners that cooperate with said at least one U-bolt toclamp the channel side walls to the lift arm.
 17. The combination ofclaim 16 wherein the bunk assembly side walls are formed with respectiveslots that enable the bunk assembly to be adjusted in directions towardand away from the lift arm.
 18. The combination of claim 13 wherein themeans for clamping the bunk assembly to the pontoon boat trailer liftarm comprises: a. a bunk bracket having a base plate in contact with thelift arm, and a pair of side plates in sliding contact with the bunkassembly side walls; b. means for mounting the bunk bracket to the liftarm; and c. means for fastening the bunk assembly to the bunk bracket.19. The combination of claim 18 wherein: a. the bunk bracket base platehas a middle section that is placed against the lift arm, and aplurality of tabs that project from the middle section; and b. the meansfor mounting the bunk bracket comprises at least one second U-bolt thatstraddles the lift arm and that passes through holes in the bunk bracketbase plate tabs.
 20. The combination of claim 18 wherein the means forfastening the bunk assembly comprises at least one U-bolt that passesthrough first openings in the bunk assembly side walls and throughaligned openings in the bunk bracket side plates.
 21. The combination ofclaim 20 wherein the openings in the bunk assembly side walls are slotsthat allow adjustment of the bunk assembly in directions toward and awayfrom the lift arm.
 22. The combination of claim 18 wherein the sideplates of the bunk bracket have respective outside surfaces that arespaced apart a distance substantially equal to the predetermined widthof the lift arms.
 23. A method of hauling a pontoon boat having a deckand spaced apart first and second pontoons comprising the steps of: a.measuring the distance between the first and second pontoons; b.providing a pontoon boat trailer having a carriage and first and secondlift arms that raise and lower the carriage; c. installing first andsecond pontoon trailer travel kits on the first and second lift arms,respectively; d. pre-setting the first and second kits to be spacedapart a distance slightly less than the distance between the first andsecond pontoons; e. rolling the pontoon boat trailer under the pontoonboat deck; and f. raising the carriage to contact the pontoon boat deckand lift the pontoon boat so that only minimal transverse spaces arepresent between the first and second pontoon trailer travel kits and therespective pontoons and thereby substantially preventing the pontoonboat from sliding laterally on the carriage.
 24. The method of claim 23wherein the step of installing first and second pontoon trailer travelkits comprises the steps of: a. providing first and second bunkbrackets; b. mounting a bunk bracket to each of the first and secondlift arms; c. fastening a bunk assembly to each bunk bracket; and d.adjusting the bunk bracket and the bunk assembly of each pontoon trailertravel kit in mutually perpendicular directions and bringing the bunkassemblies in close proximity to the associated boat pontoons.
 25. Themethod of claim 24 wherein the step of mounting a bunk bracket comprisesthe steps of: a. providing a bunk bracket having a middle section andmultiple tabs projecting from the middle section; b. providing at leastone first U-bolt; c. placing the bunk bracket middle section against theassociated lift arm; d. straddling the lift arm with said at least onefirst U-bolt and passing said at least one first U-bolt throughassociated holes in the bunk bracket tabs; and e. fastening said atleast one U-bolt to the lift arm and to the bunk bracket.
 26. The methodof claim 25 wherein: a. the step of providing a bunk bracket comprisesthe step of providing side plates upstanding from the base plate; and b.the step of fastening a bunk assembly comprises the steps of: i.providing a bunk assembly having a bunk and side walls; ii. sliding thebunk assembly side walls over the bunk bracket side plates; and iii.fastening the bunk assembly side walls to the bunk bracket side plates.27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of fastening the bunkassembly side walls to the bunk bracket side plates comprises the stepsof: a. providing aligned openings in the bunk bracket side plates and inthe bunk assembly side walls; and b. receiving at least one secondU-bolt through the openings in the bunk bracket side plates and in thebunk assembly side walls, and fastening said at least one second U-boltto the bunk bracket side plates and the bunk assembly side walls. 28.The method of claim 27 wherein the step of providing aligned openingscomprises the step of providing slots in the bunk bracket side plates orin the bunk assembly side walls and thereby enabling the bunk assemblyto slide relative to the bunk bracket when said at least one secondU-bolt is received in the openings in the bunk bracket side plates andbunk assembly side walls.
 29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step ofsliding the bunk assembly side walls over the bunk bracket side platescomprises the step of simultaneously sliding the bunk assembly sidewalls over the associated lift arm.
 30. The method of claim 23 whereinthe step of installing first and second pontoon trailer travel kitscomprises the steps of: a. clamping a bunk assembly to each of the firstand second lift arms; and b. adjusting each bunk assembly to be in closeproximity to an associated pontoon.
 31. The method of claim 30 whereinthe step of clamping a bunk assembly comprises the steps of: a.providing a bunk assembly having a bunk and side walls; b. sliding thebunk assembly side walls over the lift arm; and c. clamping the bunkassembly side walls to the lift arm.
 32. The method of claim 31 whereinthe step of clamping the bunk assembly side walls to the lift armcomprises the steps of: a. providing aligned openings in the side walls;b. receiving at least one U-bolt in the openings in the side walls; andc. fastening said at least one U-bolt to the bunk assembly side walls.33. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of providing alignedopenings in the bunk assembly side walls comprises the step of providingslots in the bunk assembly side walls that enable the bunk assembly toslide toward and away from the lift arm while said at least one U-boltis received in the side wall slots.